Good, Inexpensive Flea Treatment

[carnation]

Does anyone know of an effective and inexpensive flea treatment for dogs and cats? We've been using Frontline but it's about to break me, with 4 animals! Any over-the-counter treatment we've used hasn't worked.

[AOIIsilver]

Is it just the critters with the issue or the carpets and furniture, too?
Silver

[carnation]

We did have a problem with the room where the cats like to hang out but I think that BlazerCheer licked it. This is all so sudden and I can't figure out how the cats got them because they stay inside in a room at the top of the house where they love watching all the action in the street!

[sageofages]

Fleas can come in on people, clinging to socks and pant legs. The fleas only live a short time on their meal ticket, preferring to hope on for a snack and then back off again into the carpeting etc. I have absolutely NO carpeting in my house ...and very little flea trouble as a result. One out break in the debris in one messy teenager's room (think laundry on the floor) and after she realized the consequences, the room was picked up!

One way to help keep fleas out of the carpet is to spread borax powder on the carpet and work it in by walking over the carpet with socks on. The borax cuts up the exoskeleton of the flea and larvae and they die. Takes a few days. It is not harmful to pets or people, and it can clean any unpleasant smells from your carpet.

Vaccuum in the morning and reapply daily. You may have to do this for a couple weeks. Then after control has been achieved, you need to do this at least twice a weeks during flea season.

[Tippiechick]

You could bathe them in cedar shampoo from espree. It will remove fleas for a couple of days. Then, let them go a day and capstar them. (You can buy this online.) When it's been one week since you bathed them, you can bathe them again and start the process all over.

This is the only alternative to Frontline.

DO NOT use the wal-mart/off brands. They can cause your dogs' hair to fall out in huge chunks.

[chideltjen]

Doesn't Petco do inexpensive flea treatments? I know their shots are pretty reasonable.

Or see if your local shelter can recommend something.

[Jill1228]

I use Advantage. Just put it on the back of their neck. It has worked great with my 2 cats (only one of them likes to go out)

[aggieAXO]

I think my friend who is a day practice vet. said Frontline does not work as well on cats as it does on dogs (sorry I don't keep up with flea stuff). I would get Revolution (which has protection against heartworms as well) or advantage. Never use over the counter Hartz products-they are in hot water with the FDA and have agreed to remove all products in the next few months.

I will ask my friend again about Frontline and cats.

[AOIIsilver]

We use vet recommended treatment that is applied in-office. I can't remember the name. We have two completely in-door cats.

Carnation, you know that I respect you and deeply appreciate you...but I HAVE to admit...everytime that I see this thread, I think it reads, "Good, Inexpensive Flea Market." I immediately get all thrilled! How about starting a thread on flea markets???



Roses,
silver

[carnation]

Yeah! Does anybody know where the best ones in Atlanta are?

[christiangirl]

I used Advantix on my dog and the fleas were gone within 48 hrs. And for some weird reason, they never came back. It's been like 8 years and she's never had fleas again. Creepy.

[trojangal]

Palmolive detergent--the original green formula.

Great for washing the dogs!

[FSUZeta]

we use revolution on the dog and the two cats. it is applied on the back of the neck and takes care of ticks, fleas and heartworm. you apply it once a month. it is not cheap, but it does work.

[Rudey]

When things get rough, I like to wear a flea collar.

-Rudey

[fleameds01]

Try looking in the Wal-Mart Pet Section .
There are flea medications there and they should be cheaper than Frontline or Advantage.
I am using Wal-Mart Pet Section for my pets...

Flea Meds